Cargo ship to undock from ISS, serve as technical platform

(RIA Novosti) – Russia’s unmanned Progress spacecraft, due to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on June 30, will be used as a technical space platform before being dumped in the Pacific, mission control said Monday.

“The undocking is planned for 22:30 Moscow time, June 30. The operation will be carried out automatically,” mission control spokesman Valery Lyndin said. “As for when the freighter will be buried, a decision has yet to be made.”

Russia's unmanned Progress spacecraft

The modified version of the standard Progress craft docked on May 13, bringing 2.5 tons of supplies to the orbiter, including food, water, scientific equipment and messages for the three-member crew.

It took the spacecraft five days instead of the usual two to reach the ISS, as the freighter underwent a number of flight tests en route to the orbital station.

The freighter, equipped with an on-board digital control system, replaced the analog-controlled Progress spacecraft.